Jaggery demand rises due to Chhath
Summary
Demand for jaggery has risen in Mahottari as Chhath approaches, keeping local sugarcane farmers and producers busy making fresh sakkhar for festival offerings. Prices also tend to climb during the festival season as consumers prefer newly made jaggery.
Key Points
- Jaggery demand has increased ahead of Chhath because it is a key ingredient in festival offerings and in sel roti prepared during Tihar.
- Sugarcane farmers in Mahottari are busy producing fresh jaggery, with producers saying consumers prefer newly made stock during the festival season.
- Surendra Sah said it takes about eight to 10 quintals of sugarcane to make one quintal of jaggery, and the work is labour-intensive.
- The number of jaggery producers has declined in several parts of Mahottari as more farmers sell sugarcane to the Ramnagar sugar factory.
